Need to adopt best practices to stop biodiversity loss: KU VC

Srinagar, June 25: To provide a platform for researchers, scientists, NGOs, community groups and other stakeholders to discuss biodiversity conservation issues, the Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir (KU), Tuesday, inaugurated a 3-day ‘International Conference on Monitoring Biodiversity for Action (ICMBA-2024)’ here.

A statement of KU issued here said that the conference was being held in hybrid mode to encourage greater participation of scholars.

The conference is being attended by national and international delegates from the USA, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Georgia.

On the occasion, KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan, emphasised the importance of biodiversity conservation and advised the specialists to develop international collaborations.

“There’s an urgent need to adopt best practices to stop biodiversity loss to achieve a sustainable future,” she said.

Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Saurabh Bhagat, urged the scientific community to collaborate and engage the local community while implementing biodiversity conservation strategies.

“Engagement with local communities is essential for the successful implementation of conservation strategies,” he said.

KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, highlighted the threats confronted by biodiversity warning that “these could jeopardise the lives and livelihoods of millions of people and the survival of other living species”.

Prof S N Labh from Nepal deliberated on how climate change can affect our biodiversity, livelihood and food security.

“Climate change poses a significant threat to our biodiversity and consequently, to our food security and livelihoods,” he said.

Conference Convenor, Tariq Ahmad, stressed the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect the planet and the initiatives taken by the University of Kashmir in realising these goals.

Organising Secretary, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, emphasised on the need to conduct such conferences regularly to promote biodiversity conservation and evolve timely recommendations for arresting biodiversity loss.

“Conducting such conferences regularly is crucial for promoting biodiversity conservation and evolving timely recommendations to arrest biodiversity loss,” he said.

Bilal Ahmad Bhat and Umer Hameed Shansaz conducted the proceedings of the conference while Altaf Hussain proposed the formal vote of thanks.